Convection and steam oven with a pre-atomizer

Abstract

The invention relates to a convection and steam oven for food with an oven chamber and an auxiliary chamber partitioned-off from this in which are arranged a motor-driven, radial-action fan and several heating elements surrounding the fan, with a pre-atomization element mounted on and rotating with the hub of the fan to which is optionally supplied water from a pipe. In order to maximize pre-atomization efficiency, the pre-atomization element is arranged as a separate body with a convex surface on the hub of the fan.

We claim: 
     
       1. Convection and steam oven for food, comprising an oven chamber,   an auxiliary chamber partitioned off from the oven chamber,   a motor-driven, radial-action fan arranged in the auxiliary chamber and comprising a hub,   several heating elements arranged to surround the fan, and   a pre-atomization element mounted upon the hub of the fan to rotate therewith,   wherein said pre-atomization element is formed as a separate element apart from the fan hub and with a substantially convex surface.   
     
     
       2. The oven of claim 1, additionally comprising a pipe arranged to supply water to said pre-atomization element.   
     
     
       3. The oven of claim 2 wherein said pre-atomization element is substantially in the shape of a sphere. 
     
     
       4. The oven of claim 3, wherein said pre-atomization element additionally comprises a ridge substantially encompassing the sphere and arranged thereon to intersect a rotational axis of said sphere at an angle which is greater than about 0° and less than about 90°. 
     
     
       5. The oven of claim 3, wherein the pipe comprises an outlet opening arranged adjacent to said sphere in a rotational direction thereof and axially directed toward said sphere. 
     
     
       6. The oven of claim 3, wherein said sphere is composed of two substantially semispherical shells assembled together, each said substantially semispherical shell being bounded by a circumferential rim, and said two substantially semispherical shells being joined together along said mating rims thereof by at least one of an integrating material bond and positive locking arrangement.   
     
     
       7. The oven of claim 6, wherein said substantially semispherical shells each comprise respective openings, one opening on one of said substantially semispherical shells being arranged to fit upon a shaft end of the fan hub, and additionally comprising a screw fastener arranged to be inserted through the opening on the other of said substantially semispherical shells for mounting said sphere upon the fan hub.     
     
     
       8. The oven of claim 3, wherein said surface of said sphere is partially flattened. 
     
     
       9. The oven of claim 3, wherein said sphere is flattened along one side thereof, with said flattened portion positiond to face an outlet opening of the pipe. 
     
     
       10. The oven of claim 3, wherein said sphere comprises a recess aligned in a direction of a rotational axis thereof and extending towards an interior thereof, and additionally comprising a rod positioned upon an outlet opening of the pipe and arranged to extend into said recess. 
     
     
       11. The oven of claim 3, wherein the pipe comprises an outlet opening positioned to lie above said sphere, and additionally comprising a collection trough arranged below the outlet opening of the pipe and in an area of an axis of symmetry of said pre-atomization element, said collection trough comprising a bottom rim arranged to end substantially adjacent to said pre-atomization element.   
     
     
       12. The oven of claim 2, wherein the pipe comprises an outlet opening arranged to be directed toward a rotational axis of the fan, and additionally comprising a member constituted by a rod, reed or an additional pipe located at the outlet opening thereof.   
     
     
       13. The oven of claim 12, wherein said member is formed to be elastic. 
     
     
       14. The oven of claim 13, wherein said member comprises rubber. 
     
     
       15. The oven of claim 12, wherein said member is formed of metal. 
     
     
       16. The oven of claim 12, wherein said member comprises a free end thereof positioned to extend approximately to the rotational axis of the fan. 
     
     
       17. The oven of claim 2, wherein the pipe comprises an end arranged to terminate approximately at a level of a rotational axis of the fan, and additionally comprising a cup positioned at the pipe end and arranged to open towards said pre-atomization element.   
     
     
       18. The oven of claim 17, wherein said cup is formed from rubber or synthetic material. 
     
     
       19. The oven of claim 17, wherein said cup comprises a rim at an open end thereof which is bevelled and with a portion of said rim arranged directly adjacent to said pre-atomization element. 
     
     
       20. The oven of claim 2, wherein the pipe comprises an end arranged to terminate approximately at a level of the rotational axis of the fan, and additionally comprising a pipe section attached to the pipe and being open at both ends thereof.   
     
     
       21. The oven of claim 1, wherein said pre-atomization element is formed in the shape of a substantially semispherical body. 
     
     
       22. The oven of claim 21, wherein said substantially semispherical body is mounted upon the fan hub such that a line of symmetry of said substantially semispherical body is arranged to substantially coincide with a rotational axis thereof. 
     
     
       23. The oven of claim 21, wherein said substantially semispherical body is mounted upon the fan hub such that a line of symmetry of said substantially semispherical body is set at an angle relative to a rotational axis thereof. 
     
     
       24. The oven of claim 21, wherein said substantially semispherical body comprises a substantially semispherical shell having a circumferential rim and a circular plate joined flush to said circumferential rim to close and seal said substantially semispherical shell.   
     
     
       25. The oven of claim 1, wherein said pre-atomization element is formed and arranged upon the fan hub such that limescale deposits forming upon said pre-atomization element do not lead to clogging and functional impairment of the oven, but rather build up tipon said convex surface leading to additional irregularities at said convex surface which further improves pre-atomization effect. 
     
     
       26. Convection and steam oven for food, comprising an oven chamber,   an auxiliary chamber partitioned off from the oven chamber,   a motor-driven, radial-action fan arranged in the auxiliary chamber and comprising a hub,   several heating elements arranged to surround the fan,   a pre-atomization element mounted upon a hub of the fan to rotate therewith, and   a pipe arranged to supply water to said pre-atomization element,   wherein said pre-atomization element is formed as a plate set at a diagonal angle to a rotational axis of the fan, with the pipe arranged to terminate above said plate.   
     
     
       27. The oven of claim 26, wherein said plate is substantially circular. 
     
     
       28. The oven of claim 26, wherein said pre-atomization element is formed and arranged upon the fan hub such that limescale deposits forming upon said pre-atomization element do not lead to clogging and functional impairment of the oven, but rather build up upon said plate leading to additional irregularities at said plate further improving pre-atomization effect, and a uniform distribution of water particles across the depth of the fan is achieved.